Sunday, December 25, 2011

Merry Christmas from 171 DUSTOFF in Afghanistan




One Mission: To bring home wounded Soldiers and Marines
Everybody trust, hope, support and love them,
but nobodies want to meet them :)


 

DET 1 C CO 1-171 GSAB says Hello and Merry Christmas to the 34th Combat Aviation Brigade Ball 2011 and thier families from Afghanistan. Movie filmed and edited in Afghanistan by Poolman Productions.

A Soldiers Silent Night - Video-Poem





This is the timeless classic:



A Christmas dedication to our men and women in uniform.


from WOTN

Militants commander killed in western Farah province

Districts of Farah.Image via Wikipedia
Sunday, December 25, 2011 – Officials in the ministry of Interior Affairs of Afghanistan on Sunday announced that a militants commander was killed along with his four other companions in western Farah province on Saturday.

The officials further added, the militants commander was recognized as Mullah Tayeb and was killed along with his four other fighters following an independent military operation by Afghan National Army soldiers.

According to Afghan security officials, Mullah Tayeb was a top a militants commander who was operating in western Farah province.

He had a major role in plotting insurgency attacks against the Afghan and coalition forces in this province, the officials said.

Anti-government armed militant groups yet to comment regarding the death of Mullah Tayeb.
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Over 20 People Killed in Takhar Suicide Attack, Afghanistan

Districts of Takhar ProvinceImage via Wikipedia
Afghan local officials said that more than 20 people were killed and nearly 50 others were wounded in a suicide attack in north-eastern Afghanistan on Sunday.
The attack took place at 02:30 pm local time in Taloqan city of Takhar province when a suicide bomber detonated his explosives at the funeral ceremony of a tribal elder, Lal Mohammad Ahmadzai, a spokesman for 303 Pamir Zone in the north said.
All the victims are civilians, he added.
Afghan police arrived in the area to carry the victims to the nearby hospitals, Mr Ahmadzai said.
Unconfirmed report said Afghan Parliament member Mutalib Baig was also killed in the attack.
No group including the Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack.

from TOLONEWS.com 
---
update from several sources:
-At least 20 dead in suicide bombing in Taluqan city of province. Parliamentarian Abdul Mutalib Beig also dead.
-Deputy police chief Mahmood ul Hassan confirmed death of parliament member in Takhar suicide bomb attack


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Heavy overnight clashes reported in Baghlan province

Sunday, December 25, 2011 – Heavy clashes have been in northern Baghlan province between the militant insurgents and foreign troops.

Local residents in the area said, the clashes started in the central Baghlan district of northern Baghlan province after foreign troops launched a military operation against the militants in Chayabiha area.

The local residents also said, the clashes started around 10:00 pm local time on Saturday night and continued until 3:00 am on Sunday morning.

Unconfirmed reports suggest that at least three people were killed during the clashes and at least three others have been detained.

NATO-led International Security Assistance Force in northern Baghlan province confirmed the clashes took place.

However, ISAF officials did not disclose further information regarding the operations.
Central Baghlan district police chief Gen. Kamin also confirmed the clashes but did not provide further information.
Report by Ajmal Omeri, Baghlan province.

Afghan army seize weapons cache in Uruzgan province

Sunday, December 25, 2011 – Officials in the ministry of defense of Afghanistan following an statement on Sunday said, Afghan national army troops discovered a weapons cache in southern Uruzgan province.
The statement further added, the weapons cache was discovered and seized following military operations by Afghan national army soldiers in Tarinkot district of southern Uruzgan province.

According to Afghan national army officials, the weapons and explosives cache includes at least three AK-47 assault rifles, 22 magazines of assault rifle ammunition magazines, a Russian made pistol, a shot gun, 900 rounds of PK-47 machine ammos, 150 rounds of heavy machine gun ammos, 16 rounds of mortar rockets, 17 rounds of Rocket Propelled Grenade launcher missiles, 900 rounds of AK-47 ammos and 3 improvised explosive devices.

The officials also said, Afghan national army soldiers detained at least two militant suspects in a separate operation in Zherai district of southern Kandahar province and are under the investigation of Afghan security forces.

Anti-government armed militants group yet to comment regarding the claims of the Afghan defense ministry.
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Afghan army soldiers kill 2 US troops in Farah province (+update)

Sunday, December 25, 2011 – According to Afghan security officials in western Farah province, Afghan National Army soldiers opened fire and killed at least two American soldiers in this province.

The officials further added, the incident took place in Pusht-Rod district of western Farah province on Saturday.

Afghan security officials also said, at least one Afghan National Army soldier was killed and the other one was detained while he was injured during the cross fire.

Provincial security officials in western Farah province are suspicious in militants’ involvement behind the incident.

But the anti-government armed militants group yet to comment regarding the incident.

The incident of armed clashes between Afghan and NATO-led coalition forces is not rare and has happened in several times across the country.

In a similar incident, at least three Australian service members were injured after an Afghan army soldier opened fire in southern Uruzgan province earlier in the month of November.

updates:
--
US troops were also injured in the incident after the Afghan soldier began shooting and coalition troops returned fire in southwestern Farah province, Afghan army and police officials said on Sunday.
"Last night in Bala Boluk an Afghan army soldier opened fire on foreign forces," said Najibullah Najibi, spokesman for the Afghan army in western Afghanistan.
"Four foreign forces have been wounded in this incident and the Afghan soldier has been killed."
A spokesman for the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force said there were no coalition fatalities but would not comment on ISAF casualties in line with policy.
"We are aware of the incident in ... Farah province and we are still in the process of gathering all the facts. There were no ISAF fatalities," said Sgt Mike Montello.
Farah provincial police chief Sayed Mohammad Roshan Dil said "an Afghan army soldier opened fire on American troops".
"He was killed when American soldier returned fire. The firefight started after a quarrel," he said.
And district governor Mullah Ghawsedin said there was an armed clash in which at least one Afghan army soldier was killed after a dispute.
"We are investigating to find out what went wrong," he said.

Read more: http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/afghan-soldier-killed-after-opening-fire-during-argument-injuring-us-troops/story-e6frfku0-1226230349034#ixzz1hYXNzPD7
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Explosion rips through church near Nigeria capital

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — An explosion ripped through a Catholic church during Christmas Mass near Nigeria's capital Sunday, causing unknown injuries amid a wave of sectarian attacks targeting Africa's most populous nation.
Local police spokesman Richard Oguche said the blast struck St. Theresa Church in Madalla, a town in Niger state close to the capital, Abuja. Oguche said he had no other details and was driving to the scene of the explosion.
It was not immediately known what had caused the explosion or how many people were injured. Nigeria's National Emergency Management Agency, however, sent a text message to journalists warning it did not immediately have enough ambulances to begin ferrying the wounded to hospitals.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but the explosion comes amid a wave of attacks in Nigeria by a radical Muslim sect known as Boko Haram. The sect is responsible for at least 465 killings this year alone, according to an Associated Press count.
Last year, a series of Christmas Eve bombings in the central Nigerian city of Jos claimed by Boko Haram killed at least 32 people and wounded at least 74 others.
With those attacks in mind, the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria's capital of Abuja had issued a warning Friday to citizens to be "particularly vigilant" around churches, large crowds and areas where foreigners congregate.
In the last year, the sect has carried out increasingly bloody attacks in its campaign to implement strict Shariah law across Nigeria, a nation of more than 160 million people with a largely Christian south and a Muslim north.

By BASHIR ADIGUN, Associated Press


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Sudan's army announces killing of Darfur's rebel leader

KHARTOUM, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Sudanese army announced Sunday that the head of the main rebel group in the restive western region of Darfur had been killed.
Khalil Ibrahim, leader of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), "was killed today morning at the Wad Banda area in the North Kordofan State," the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) said in a statement without elaboration.
The JEM, which is considered the most powerful rebel group in Darfur, said Thursday that their fighters had reached Kordofan region on their way to the Sudanese capital in order to topple the government.
The SAF on Friday confirmed attacks by JEM fighters in North Kordofan's Um Qozain, Qoz Abyad and Armal areas, not far from North Darfur, where the rebels are based.
SAF spokesman Al-Sawarmi Khalid Sa'ad accused the rebels of targeting the inhabitants of the three locations.
The JEM, which participated in the Doha process to end the Darfur conflict, has refused to sign a peace agreement with the government. Last November, it forged an alliance with two other factions to overthrow the government.
Ibrahim returned to Darfur last September from Libya, where he had lived a long time before Muammar Gaddafi was toppled. The Sudanese government had accused the Gaddafi regime of supporting the JEM, providing arms to the rebel group and hosting and training its members.
In May 2008, the JEM launched an attack on Khartoum, which was the only rebel attack on the capital since the conflict erupted in Darfur in 2003, but was quickly repulsed by government forces.
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Afghan Ministry: Clashes Kill 30 Suspected Insurgents

ANSF, Coalition forces clear enemy stronghold ...Image via Wikipedia
December 25, 2011
The Afghan Interior Ministry says security forces have killed 30 suspected insurgents in a series of clashes around the country.

A ministry statement says the army, police and NATO troops launched a total of 11 operations in the past 24 hours across Afghanistan. It says seven insurgents were arrested.

Sunday's statement says the killed insurgents were armed and that weapons were recovered in the operations.

Separately, NATO says one of its helicopters crash landed in Nahr-e-Saraj district of Helmand province on Sunday after taking small-arms fire from the ground. There were no injuries among the crew.

NATO relies on helicopters to avoid using roads that are frequently mined by the insurgents.
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Dec. 25., 2011. - ISAF Joint Command Morning Operational Update

KABUL, Afghanistan (Dec. 25) — A combined Afghan and coalition security force conducted an operation in search of a Taliban leader in Baghlan-e Jadid district, Baghlan province, today.  The leader trains insurgents to use roadside bombs and provides explosives for use in attacks against Afghan forces.
During the operation, two insurgents displayed hostile intent towards the security force. Assessing an immediate threat, the security force engaged, killing the insurgents.
A third insurgent died after self-detonating a grenade. Bomb making material and weapons to include grenades were confiscated and multiple suspected insurgents were detained during the operation.
In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout Afghanistan:

South

In Nahr-e Saraj district, Helmand province, a combined Afghan and coalition security force captured a Taliban leader during an operation today. The leader provided equipment and trained insurgent fighters in Helmand province. Multiple suspected insurgents were detained during the operation.
A combined Afghan and coalition security force conducted an operation in search of a Taliban facilitator in Zharay district, Kandahar province, today. The facilitator moves explosives and weapons throughout southern Afghanistan. The security force confiscated approximately 5 pounds (11 kilograms) of black tar heroin and detained two additional suspected insurgents during the operation.

East 

In Nadir Shar Kot district, Khost province, a combined Afghan and coalition security force captured a Haqqani network facilitator during an operation today. The facilitator moved and stored weapons throughout the area. Multiple weapons were seized and one suspected insurgent was detained during the operation.
A combined Afghan and coalition security force captured a Taliban facilitator during an operation in Pachir Wa Agam district, Nangarhar province, today. The facilitator distributed weapons and munitions to insurgents for use in attacks in Jalalabad.

Over 60 killed in N. Nigeria clash


LAGOS, Dec. 24 (Xinhua) -- More than 61 people have been killed in the past days in the clash between the Nigerian army and the militant sect Boko Haram in the West African country's northeastern region, the military said on Saturday.

The Nigerian army told reporters in the capital Abuja that it had destroyed a major stronghold of the Boko Haram sect in Damaturu, the capital of Yobe State, killing about 50 of its members after a fierce battle.

Lt.-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika, the chief of army staff, announced this in reply to questions from newsmen at the Headquarters of the Brigade of Guards.

"It might interest you to note that last night there was a major encounter with Boko Haram at Damaturu," he said.

"In the encounter, the army lost three soldiers, and seven others were wounded as in the early morning on Friday and by this afternoon, Boko Haram would have lost about 50 men and the arsenal they used would have been destroyed," he added.

Ihejirika said the army had earlier been informed that the sect planned to cause mayhem during this period. "In response, the Army has put some structures in place and the Quick Response Groups are already out in the field," he said, adding that the army had learnt some lessons from the challenges facing it.

The army chief said the army would build on its experiences in 2011 to face the challenges of 2012.

"We are facing challenges of new phenomenon of terrorism, and it is good the force is able to put up structures to address them, " he told reporters.
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Somali in Islamist Area Murders 3 Aid Workers


Three relief workers in Somalia are dead, gunned down near a food distribution center.
The shooting took place Friday near the central settlement of Mataban. The World Food Program says two of the victims worked directly for the relief agency, and that the third was a contractor.
Mataban district Chairman Abdurrahman Abdi Jama tells VOA a suspect is in custody. He says the man was the owner of a private food distribution center.
Mataban is about 30 kilometers from the border with Ethiopia, in an area where fighters from insurgent group al-Shabab and other militias are known to operate.
Al-Shabab has blocked most international aid groups from operating in areas it controls, some of which were declared famine zones earlier this year.
The World Food Program says it has temporarily suspended operations in the area.

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